New president for Philly's Independence Mission Schools

A non-profit organization set up to manage a network of independent Catholic schools in Philadelphia has a new president.

Aldo Cavalli, the new head of Independence Mission Schools, wants to keep former parish schools in 16 Philadelphia area neighborhoods open and affordable to parents. He believes outside management will help make that possible.

"The most important thing we're going to bring to the schools is just good management practices, keeping overhead costs at a minimum, and still providing quality leadership and oversight to ensure that there's good academic accountability," Cavalli said.

The mission schools currently serve about 4,200 students. Many are from low-income in communities, and many are not Catholic.

The schools were removed from parish control last year as part of restructuring effort by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

Independence Mission Schools will assume formal control of the schools for the beginning of next school year.

"We want to make it an affordable quality education that [parents] can commit to and feel confident that its going to be there in the coming years," Cavalli said.

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Aldo Cavalli, the new president of the INdepenence Mission Schools, speaks at a press conference Friday. (Ben Herold/WHYY)

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